Universal System Components and Methods for Holding Fishing Rods

ABSTRACT

To provide a better experience for ice fisherman and fisherman generally, the present inventor devised, among other things, apparatus, assemblies, components, and methods for holding a fishing device, such as a fishing rod. One exemplary apparatus includes an adjustable rod holder pivotably mounted or coupled to a base structure. The rod holder, which can be strapped or otherwise attached to one or more types of fishing rods or poles, has an adjustable center of gravity and/or an adjustable pivot point. The adjustable center of gravity and/or pivot point allows users to balance the fishing rod at various tip angles, up or down, and thus to position the rod in a way most suitable for the type of desired fish. The exemplary apparatus is particularly suitable as a replacement for the conventional tip-ups used in ice fishing, because it provides advantages of conventional rod &amp;reel fishing with those of conventional tip-down fishing.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication 61/618,458, which was filed on Mar. 30, 2012 and which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND PERMISSION

A portion of this patent document contains material subject to copyrightprotection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure,as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files orrecords, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. The followingnotice applies to this document: Copyright © 2012 Karol R. Baugh

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments of the present invention related to systems,methods, and apparatus for holding fishing rods.

BACKGROUND

Fishing is one of the most popular recreational activities in the world.One of the most common ways to fish entails use of a fishing rod or polethat is attached to a fishing line with a baited hook. The fishing rodis typically held by a user as the line and hook are submerged in alake, pond, river, or other body of water believed to contain fish. Innorthern winter climates, the lake or pond may be partially frozen, withusers boring a hole through a thick layer of ice to access the water andfish below.

One problem the present inventor recognized in ice fishing concerns useof tip ups, which evolved to allow fishing without the need for holdinga fishing rod. A tip-up is a spring-loaded fishing device that senses afish strike (bite) on a fishing line and automatically jerks a portionof the upward while simultaneously raising a small flag to signal thestrike. The device is very popular because it allows users to enjoy icefishing while sitting in the comfort of warming houses, typicallyportable ones positioned on a frozen lake.

Unfortunately, tip-ups require users attempting to catch a fish to pullin their fishing line hand over hand, typically while kneeling on theice or otherwise bending over. Moreover, tip-ups are not suitable forcatching fish, such as crappy and walleye, that are sensitive to theline resistance imposed by these spring-loaded mechanisms. Indeed,tip-ups can frequently be triggered by such fish striking withoutgetting hooked, forcing users to leave the comfort of their warminghouses to reset their tip-ups without the reward of an actual catch.

Accordingly, the present inventor has identified a need to providebetter ways of ice fishing.

SUMMARY

To address one or more of these and/or other needs, the present inventordevised, among other things, apparatus, assemblies, components, andmethods for holding a fishing device. One exemplary apparatus includesan adjustable rod holder pivotably mounted or coupled to a basestructure. The rod holder, which can be strapped or otherwise attachedto one or more types of fishing rods or poles, has an adjustable centerof gravity and/or an adjustable pivot point (or axis). The adjustablecenter of gravity and/or pivot point allows users to balance the fishingrod in a wide-range of positions, including at various tip-up andtip-down angles, and thus to position the rod in a way most suitable forthe type of desired fish.

In the exemplary embodiment, the center of gravity is adjustable via theselective movement or repositioning of one or more weights along thelength dimension generally or substantially perpendicular to a pivotaxis of the rod holder. The pivot point can be adjusted generally in twoways: First, it can be in predefined increments via placement of a pivotrod or axle that mounts to the base structure through one of a set oftwo or more through-holes in the rod holder. Second, it can be adjustedcontinuously by placing the pivot rod through a pivot slot or slide andlocking it in place using a mechanism for selectively securing therelative position of the pivot rod within the pivot slot. In someembodiments, the pivot slide or slot includes ridges or troughs thatengage the pivot rod, allowing the user to move the pivot pointincrementally and thus to adjust the tip angle of the rod incrementalsteps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This document incorporates the following listed figures to aid indescribing the concepts, structures, functions, operations, and/oradvantages of various embodiments of the present invention. The figuresare annotated with numbers or other labels that are referenced in thetext of the detailed description that follows. For simplicity andclarity, like reference numerals in the figures refer to identical orfunctionally similar elements. Additionally, some, if not all, elementsin the figures may not only omit the detail of actual physicalembodiments of the invention, but also may not have been drawn to scale.The depicted dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relative toother elements to facilitate understanding.

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary fishing rod or poleholding apparatus corresponding to one or more embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2, a profile view of the exemplary apparatus shown in FIG. 1, alsocorresponds to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3, a top view of the FIG. 1 apparatus in a folded or storage mode,also corresponds to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4, a side view of the FIG. 1 apparatus in the folded or storagemode, also corresponds to one or more embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are respective side and end views of an exemplaryadjustable rod holder assembly, which can be used with the apparatus inFIG. 1 and which corresponds to one or more embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are respective side and end views of another exemplaryadjustable rod holder assembly which can be used with the apparatus inFIG. 1 and which correspond to one or more embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 9 and 10, showing respective top and profile views of a slotclosure portion of the exemplary FIG. 1 apparatus, corresponds to one ormore embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

This document, which incorporates the drawings and the appended claims,describes one or more specific embodiments of one or more inventions.These embodiments, offered not to limit but only to exemplify and teachvarious aspects of the invention, are shown and described in sufficientdetail to enable persons skilled in the relevant art to make and use theinvention. Thus, for sake of brevity and to avoid obscuring theinvention, the description may omit certain information known to thoseof skill in the art.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an exemplary rod holder apparatus 100 in aoperational or normal usage mode, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show the apparatusin an inoperative folded or storage mode. Apparatus 100, which employs anovel tip-down balance mechanism, includes three main parts: a baseframe or support frame 110, an adjustable rod holder assembly 120, andan optional fishing rod 130 (shown only in FIG. 2).

In overview, base frame 110 includes vertical support members or arms112 and 113 which are held at a specific angle relative to a baseportion 111 via an angle brace assembly 114. Adjustable rod holder 120is pivotably and removably mounted via a pivot rod 127 to upper portionsof the vertical support members. A handle portion 131 of fishing rod 130is strapped or otherwise removably and securely mounted to the rodholder assembly, enabling the rod to pivot about an axis 127X defined bypivot rod or axel 127. In the exemplary embodiment, the rod holder 120has an adjustable center of gravity and an adjustable pivot point (oraxel-through position). Its center of gravity is adjustable via theselective movement or repositioning of weight assemblies 124 and 125along its length dimension, i.e, a dimension generally or substantiallyperpendicular to axis 127X. The rod holder pivot point can be adjustedvia placement of the pivot rod through one of a set of two or morethrough-holes in the rod holder or via use of a pivot slot in the rodholder along with means for selectively securing the relative positionof the pivot rod within the pivot slot.

More particularly, base frame 110, which takes the exemplary form of awooden rectangular foldable frame, including a base portion 111, twogenerally vertical support members 112 and 113, and an angle braceassembly 114.

Base portion 111 includes respective left and right side members 1111and 1112 and respective front and rear cross members 1113 and 1114. Leftand right side members 1111 and 1112, which are generally parallel toeach other and have the same nominal dimensions, have respective frontportions 1111F and 1112F and respective rear portions 1111R and 1112R.Front portions 1111F and 1112F are held in fixed relationship to eachother via front cross member 1113, and rear portions 1111R and 1112R aresimilarly held via rear cross member 1114. Rear portions 1111R and 1112Rare pivotably mounted via conventional fasteners, such as anut-bolt-and-washer assembly, to respective lower end portions 1121 and1131 of vertical support members 112 and 113, permitting their rotationabout an axis 111X (defined by the fasteners or (not labeled). Alsoincluded are angled stop blocks 1115 and 1116 to stop over-rotation ofthe vertical support members away from base portion 111. The exemplaryembodiment stops rotation of the vertical supports at an angle ofapproximately 75 degrees from horizontal (from base portion 111);however other embodiments provide an angle of in the range of 85-90degrees.

Vertical support members 112 and 113, which are generally parallel toeach other and have the same nominal dimensions, also include respectiveintermediate or middle portions 1122 and 1132 and respective upperportions 1123 and 1133. Intermediate portions 1122 and 1123 arepivotably coupled to cross member portion 1141 of angle brace assembly114.

Angle brace assembly 114 includes not only cross member portion 1141 butalso a brace leg 1142, and a brace stop member 1143. Cross memberportion 1141, which is positioned between vertical support members 112and 113, has a left end pivotably coupled, for example bolted, tointermediate portion 1122, and a right end pivotably coupled tointermediate portion 1132. Although any pivotable coupling or mountingarrangement can be used, the exemplary embodiment feeds an axle withthreaded ends through a bore in the cross member or two headless botsthreaded into the respective ends of the cross member to define arotational axis 114X. The threaded ends of the axle or the headlessbolts extend through countersunk holes in intermediate portions 1122 and1132 of vertical support members 112 and 113. (The holes are countersunkto receive lock nuts and washers and provide clearance for the verticalsupport members to rotate about axis 111X between base frame sidemembers 1111 and 1112.)

Brace leg 1142 extends generally perpendicularly from cross memberportion 1141. In the exemplary embodiment, which is formed of wood,brace leg 1142 is fastened to cross member portion 1141 via amortise-and-tenon joint. A lower end portion 1142A of brace leg 1142 isangled or beveled to rest flush on a top surface of front cross member1113 and to engage brace stop member 1143. Brace stop member 1143, inthe exemplary embodiment, takes the form of a rectangular block fixedlymounted to the top surface of front cross member 1113. (In someembodiments, the stop member takes the form of an indentation, recess,or opening in the surface of cross member 1113, and in others it takesthe form of either a hook or loop doth patch, with the end of the braceleg having the counterpart loop or hook cloth patch. Some embodimentsmay attach a metal plate or several nails or screws into the end of thebrace leg and embed or fasten a magnet to cross member 1113.) The lengthof the brace leg and position of brace stop member 1143 define a baseframe support angle 1142X (best shown in FIG. 2), the angle of baseportion 111 relative to vertical support members 112 and 113.

Pivotably coupled to the upper portions 1123 and 1133 of the verticalsupport members is adjustable rod holder assembly 120, best shown inFIGS. 2, 5, and 6.

Rod holder assembly 120 includes an elongated body 121, rod retainermembers 122 and 123, a center-of-gravity (or weight distribution)adjustments 124 and 125, adjustable pivot portion 126, and a pivot rod127. Body 121, in the exemplary embodiment, takes the form of anelongated 1 inch×0.75 inch wooden bar having first and second endportions 121A and 121B, which define a body length In the exemplaryembodiment, body length is in the range of 8 to 18 inches (20.3-45.7cm),for example 12 inches (30.4 cm). Mounted to respective end portions 121Aand 121B of the body portion are rod retainer members 122 and 123.

In the exemplary embodiment, rod retainer members 122 ad 123 take theform of VELCRO™ hook-and-loop strap, with a loop-cloth strip encirclingeach of the end portions and a 5-6-inch (12.7-15.7 cm) long strap ofhook cloth attached to the loop cloth. The length of strap is chosen toenable securely strapping the handle portion of a fishing rod, pole, orother fishing device to body portion 121, generally configuring ororienting the body portion to be in a parallel relationship with thehandle portion of the fishing rod (shown for example in FIG. 2).Adjacent end portions 122 and 123 are slot or slide portions 1241 and1251 (shown in FIG. 5) of center-of-gravity (or weight distribution)adjustments 124 and 125.

Adjustments 124 and 125 also includes repositionable weight members 1242and 1252 which respectively extend through slot or slide portions 1241and 1251. The slot or slide portions are oriented with theft lengthdimensions generally parallel to the length or longitudinal dimension ofbody portion 121. In the exemplary embodiments, each of weight members1242 and 1252 take the form of a nut-and-bolt assembly, with the boltextending through its corresponding slot or slide portion and a nut (forexample a wingnut) that threads onto the bolt. The wingnut can beloosened to permit sliding the longitudinally along the length of thebody portion, shifting the center of gravity of the adjustable rodholder. More acute center-of-gravity adjustments can be achieved byadding washers, to weight members 1242 and 1252 and/or by lengtheningthe body or slot or slide portions 1241 and 1251 of the adjustable rodholder. (In some embodiments, the body portion, for example, can takethe form of a telescoping structure which allows further adjustment.)Located between weight adjustments 124 and 125 is adjustable pivotportion 126.

In the exemplary embodiment, adjustable pivot portion 126 includes a setof set of two or more through-holes, for example through-holes 1261,1262, and 1263, with through-hole 1261 positioned at a midpoint alongthe length of body portion 121, and through-holes 1262 and 1263 equallyspaced from and an positioned on either side of through-hole 1261. Pivotrod 127, a metallic cynlindrical rod extends through one of thethrough-holes, thereby defining that through-hole as the pivot point forthe pivotably mounted rod holder assembly.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show respective side and end views of alternative rodholder assembly 120 which can be substituted for the rod holder assembly120. Notably, assembly 120′ omits weight distribution adjustments 124and 125, and replaces pivot adjustment 126 with pivot adjustment 126″and pivot rod 127 with a threaded pivot rod 127′. Adjustment of thepivot point for rod holder assembly 120′ is achieved by loosening one ofwindnuts 1266 or 1267 that are threaded onto pivot rod 127′, and slidingpivot rod 127′ longitudinally forward or backward along pivot slot oropening 126′. When the desired tip angle is achieved (assumingattachment of a fishing rod to the rod holder assembly), the wingnut istightened, thereby fixing position of the pivot rod relative to the bodyof the rod holder assembly. Pivot slot or opening 126′ can have a smoothprofile to permit continuous adjustment of the pivot point along thelength of the slot, and/or it can include troughs or grooves, as shownvia profile line 1265 that define a series of incremental pivot pointpositions. The profile of the slot and groove spacing can be laser orCNC-machine cut into a block of wood or other material, or molded usingconventional techniques. Some embodiments add similar profiles to theslots for weight distribution adjustments 124 and 125.

In operation, the exemplary apparatus, specifically rod holder assembly120 and/or 120′, provides one or more ways to balance a fishing rod at adesired tip angle:

-   -   1) selection of the pivot point (via pivot hole selection or        continuous or discreet pivot point selection;    -   2) position of the rod holder assembly along the length        dimension of the fishing rod; and/or    -   3) adjustment of the weight distribution of the rod holder        assembly by moving, for example sliding, one or more of the        weights (bolt and wing nut) forward or backward along the length        dimension of the rod holder assembly.

More specifically, the exemplary apparatus provides several ways to finetune the tip angle with any fishing rods that can be mounted to anappropriately scaled (sized) version of the apparatus. To this end,normal operation of the apparatus entails a user attaching theadjustable rod holder (aka “balance stick”) using the rod retainingmembers, for example VELCRO straps, slightly forward of the reel of thefishing rod, with one strap behind the fishing reel and the other infront of it. After attachment of the fishing rod to the balance stick,the user selects a pivot point, for example via insertion of the pivotrod through one of the pivot holes or through sliding of the pivot rodalong the pivot slot to a desired location and securing it in place witha wingnut tightening or through use of an alternative securing mechanism(for example spring biased damping mechanism. A middle positioned pivotpoint is generally a believed to be a good starting point. Forembodiments that include the adjustable weight distribution feature, theuser can adjust position of one or more of the weights, adjusting thecenter of gravity of the balance stick forward or backward relative tothe center of the stick. Additional weights in the form of washers canbe added.

The rod holder assembly can then be mounted on the upper portion of thevertical support members, specifically by placing the ends of the pivotsrods into corresponding slots in the ends of the vertical supportmembers. FIGS. 1, 9 and 10 shows these slots as well as retainer tabs1281 and 1282 that pivotably attached to the tops of the verticalsupport members. The tabs can be rotated to cover or uncover the slotopenings in the vertical support members. I In the covered position withthe pivot rod installed in the slots, the retainer tabs prevent thepivot rod from escaping the slot, for example if the base support frameis tipped or flipped over. Some embodiments may use an L-shaped slot,with the L lower portion of the L directed toward the front (i.e. in thedirection of the rod tip.

When the combined fishing rod and rod holder assembly are pivotallymounted to the base frame, the user can set the depth, perhaps with aline stop of some kind, bait the hook and start fishing. The exemplaryembodiment allows the rod to actually bob freely up and down on its ownas the minnow or other bait moves freely. With the exception of actuallybaiting the hook and possibly removing the fish from the hook, theprocess of setting up and packing up at the end of the day can mostly bedone without removing gloves.

Moreover, as FIGS. 3 and 4 show the exemplary apparatus, specificallybase frame 110 folds flat after removal of the rod holder assembly. Inthe exemplary embodiment, the rod holder assembly must be removed topermit fold down of the base frame. In some embodiments, the base frameincludes a magnet mounted to an interior portion of one or both of thevertical support members, which can be used to hold the metal pivot rodand/or the rod holder assembly. Additionally some embodiments includeadditional retainer tabs on the side portions of the base frame whichcan be pivoted inward to prevent inadvertent unfolding or opening of thebase frame. In some embodiments, magnetic fasteners are used to maintainthe frame in a closed or folded position. In some embodiments, the bodyof rod holder assembly includes a longitudinal end bore with a retainertab cover for storage of the 0.125-inch diameter×5.25 inch retainingrod.

The exemplary apparatus or system also facilitates use of open waterrods and reels as well as traditional shorter rods with reels or jigpoles for ice fishing. The system, particularly its elevated pivotpoint, eliminates the need for anglers to remove gloves and crawl aroundthe ice, not only resulting in a warmer, more comfortable ice fishingexperience, but also enabling them to spend more time catching fish.

The exemplary system enables ice fisherman to fish pan fish and gamefish with conventional fishing tackle. One can select the rod length andaction to match the reel size and the strength of the fishing line.Fishing entails securing the rod to a “balance stick” placing the pivotrod in a sturdy base. The system allows the fish to pull the rod forwardto the level of the ice and still take line from a reel with a chosendrag adjustment. The rod cannot be pulled down the hole because of theattached base frame structure. The fish can be played in a normalmanner, tiring the fish. The fishing rod can be used to and the fishrather than bringing it in hand over hand as required using a tip up.

Exemplary Advantages

One or more of the exemplary embodiments provide one or more of thefollowing advantages:

-   -   1. The “Balance Stick” quickly and easily attaches to almost any        rod without using screws, turn screws, bolts or collars or any        drastic rod modifications. There are no rod alterations        necessary and most certainly no hole to drill in rod handle or        reel seat. Nearly any fishing rod and reel including even a 10′        bamboo pole with a reel can be quickly set up, and perfectly        balanced, using the balance stick, and securely placed in a        solid tip down rod holder ready to fish.    -   2. Set up and take down is fast, and it is easy to pull up and        move from spot to spot and it is also convenient to pick up at        the end of the day.    -   3. Fishing rods are safe from being pulled down the ice fishing        hole because they are securely attached to the balance stick and        a sturdy fixed base.    -   4. Allows early detection of a fish taking the bait, and fish        can take out as much as 4-5 feet of line pulling the rod        downward to the ice, until resistance is felt from the reels        drag. It often happens that a fish will strip most of the line        from a tip up and then drops the bait with the fisherman coming        up empty handed. Using a rod and reel, as the exemplary        apparatus permits, the fisherman may come up without a fish but        not terribly inconvenienced.    -   5. Rod movement up and down usually last for some duration when        the rod is well balanced in the “Balance Stick.” This is often a        desirable technique used to attract and stimulate fish to        strike. This action can be turned on or turned off depending how        the rod and reel are situated in the “Balance Stick”.    -   6. Exemplary system is positioned completely positioned above        the ice. No more kneeling or bending over the ice. (height of        the pivot point is raised above the ice; some embodiments allow        the height to be adjusted.) Rod activity and movement can be        observed as well as any line being removed from the reel by a        fish. Tip up fishing is done with the reel on the end of a shaft        below the ice. When a tip up flag goes off the fisherman is        aware of two things, either the shaft of the tip up is moving or        it is motionless. (Some embodiments include passive or        electronic audible or visual alarms that are triggered by        movement or tilting of the rod, for example, a bell or chime.)    -   7. The fisherman can stand upright rather than kneel and crawl        around the ice to set depths and bait the hook.    -   8. More fish are landed. Using a rod and reel is a better way to        fish, setting the hook, playing the fish and landing the fish        all are better. Hand-over-hand retrieval often results in the        fish tearing the hook from its mouth.    -   9. When the fish is landed the extra line is reeled in, not        curled and tangled on the snow and ice. Issues related to        winding up frozen and tangled line are no longer a problem.

CONCLUSION

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have beendescribed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates thatvarious modifications and changes can be made without departing from thescope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly,the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrativerather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intendedto be included within the scope of present teachings.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) thatmay cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is definedsolely by the appended claims including any amendments made during thependency of this application and all equivalents of those claims asissued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms, such as second, top andbottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity oraction from another entity or action without necessarily requiring orimplying any actual such relationship or order between such entities oractions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”, “having,”“includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variationthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes,contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but mayinclude other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process,method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises a”,“has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . . a” does not, withoutmore constraints, preclude the existence of additional identicalelements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises,has, includes, contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are definedas one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms“substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” or any otherversion thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one ofordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the termis defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in anotherembodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term“coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although notnecessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device orstructure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in atleast that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for holding a fishing rod, comprising:a support frame; and balancing means, pivotably couplable at a pivotpoint to the support frame and removably attachable to a fishing rod orpole, for adjustably balancing the fishing rod or pole at a selectedangle relative to the support frame, the adjustable balancing meanshaving a length dimension generally parallel to the length dimension ofthe fishing rod or pole when attached thereto, and including at leastone of: a weight component adjustably movable along the length dimensionto at least partially determine the selected angle; and means foradjusting position of the pivot point along the length dimension.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the weight member includes a shaftoriented generally parallel to the length dimension and a weight movablymounted to the shaft.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the means foradjusting position of the pivot point includes a slot in a structure, apivot rod extending through the slot and movable along a lengthdimension of the slot, and means for securing the pivot rod at aposition along the length dimension, the position being the pivot point.4. The apparatus of claims 1, wherein the support frame includes: firstand second generally vertical support members which are pivotablycoupled to the balancing means; first and second generally horizontalbase members pivotably mounted to the vertical support members; andmeans for securing relative position of the vertical support members andthe horizontal base members.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein thesupport frame is configured to allow folding the vertical supportmembers and horizontal base members together for storage.
 6. A method ofice fishing, comprising: fastening a component to a fishing rod, thecomponent having an adjustable pivot point along a dimension generallyparallel to a length dimension of the fishing rod; and pivotablymounting the component after fastening to the fishing rod to a supportstructure so that the component and the fishing rod may pivot about thepivot point.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising placing thesupport structure on a frozen body of water prior to pivotably mountingthe component to the support structure.
 8. The method of claim 6,wherein the support structure is configured to support the component andthe rod a height between 18 inches and 48 inches above a supporting icesubstrate.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: adjusting thecenter of gravity of the component to thereby change an angle of inclineof the fishing rod relative to a vertical axis defined by the supportstructure.
 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising unfolding thesupport structure from a flat-folded configuration to an unfoldedconfiguration.
 11. Apparatus for a fishing rod having a lengthdimension, the apparatus comprising: foldable support means; anelongated structure having a pivot point and being pivotably couplableto the foldable support means so that the elongated structure pivotsrelative to the folded support means, with the structure having adimension; means for adjusting position of the pivot point along thedimension; and means for removably attaching the elongated structure toa fishing rod.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the dimension is alength dimension of the elongated structure.
 13. The apparatus of claim11, wherein the means for adjusting position of the pivot point alongthe dimension includes an elongated opening in the elongated structure,a pivot rod extending through the opening and movable along a lengthdimension of the elongated opening, and means for securing the pivot rodat a position along the length dimension of the opening, the positionbeing the pivot point.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the meansfor removably attaching the elongated structure to the fishing holdincludes at least one strap.
 15. Apparatus comprising: an elongatedcomponent including a body having a length dimension and a pivot rodextending through the body at a first position along the lengthdimension; and means for changing position of the pivot rod from thefirst position to a second position along the length dimension; andmeans for removably securing the elongated component to a fishing rod.16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the elongated component has anominal weight and a corresponding center of gravity, and wherein thecomponent further comprises means changing the center of gravity of thecomponent without changing its nominal weight.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 15, wherein the means for removably attaching the elongatedstructure to the fishing hold includes at least one strap.
 18. Theapparatus of claim of 17 further comprising foldable support means forpivotably supporting the component when removably secured to the fishingrod.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the foldable support frameincludes: first and second generally vertical support members which arepivotably couplable to the component; first and second generallyhorizontal base members pivotably mounted to the vertical supportmembers; and means for securing relative position of the verticalsupport members and the horizontal base members.